Invalidity · first instance · 2020-11-20
000108309
Contested design: 006352332-0001
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld, the contested RCD is declared invalid, and the holder must pay the applicant's fixed costs of EUR 750.
Show verbatim operative text
1. The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld. 2. Registered Community design No 0063523320001 is declared invalid. 3. The holder bears the applicant’s costs, fixed at EUR 750.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €750
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Wobben Properties GmbH
Germany (DE)
Dreekamp 5, 26605 Aurich, Germany
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Tom Andresen
Portugal (PT)
Volta da Romanzeira Edificio Villa Nature, apt. 03C, 8125-407 Vilamoura, Algarve, Portugal
Represented by
Prior art cited (3)
tubular tower and construction procedure
WO 2010/055535 A1 · WIPO · disclosed 2010-05-20
Flanschsegment fur ein Windenergieanlagen-Stahlturmringsegment und Verfahren
DE 10 2017 106 201 A1 · Germany · disclosed 2018-09-27
photos and video stills of modular wind turbine tower segments
Flickr and YouTube screenshots · Flickr; YouTube
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character and also invoked visibility and technical-function objections against the wind-tower segment design.
- ›The holder disputed disclosure of the earlier designs and argued the contested design was new, had individual character, remained visible in normal use, and was not dictated by technical function.
- ›The Division accepted disclosure of WIPO-published D1, identified modular wind-turbine tower segments as the relevant sector, and found the designer's freedom limited by technical constraints.
- ›Comparing the protected features, the Division held the contested design created the same overall impression as D1 and therefore lacked individual character under Article 6(1).
- ›The application was upheld, the RCD was declared invalid in full, and the holder was ordered to bear the applicant's fixed costs.
Deciding panel
- MemberMichele M. BENEDETTI - ALOISI
- MemberGailė SAKALAITĖ
- MemberBirgit CESSY FILTENBORG
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| esespañol (es) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| frfrançais (fr) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| ititaliano (it) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| enEnglish | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
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